Good Morning Welcome back to Bathroom Blues Travel Blog,
By the time you read this, I'll be on a plane to upstate New York for a visit to Keuka Lake and my Keuka Roots™ friends. I'll be sharing details from that trip after my return on August 6th.
Today I'd like to share with you something a little closer to home and heart.
We've all heard the old adage about not knowing what's in your own "back yard." Meaning, most of us consider traveling out of state or to another country a "true vacation." Years ago I had the chance to explore more of my home state for a local magazine. I'll be sharing those articles periodically begining with A Jaunt through Jeff Davis Parish...
We start our journey heading east on I-10 out of Lake Charles. Our first stop in
Jeff Davis Parish is the unincorporated community of Lacassine. There are a
couple of stories on how the name came about, one being that a tribe of Comanche
Indians led by their Chief Lacassine settled the area in the early 19th
Century. The other tale denotes that ‘Lacassine’ stands for hunting ground in
Choctaw and yet another version is that the name means “small house” in French
and the community was named after a small house built by an Indian Chief.
Regardless of which story resonates with you, Lacassine’s main attraction is
the Bayou Rum Distillery, home of the #1
Craft Rum in America followed by Lil
Cochon’s Cajun Kitchen restaurant which is know for its variety of great
Cajun & Creole dishes.
Onward ho! and we arrive in Welsh. Officially
incorporated in 1888, Welsh was founded when Henry Welsh and his father, Miles moved
into the area from New Orleans to raise cattle. Soon Welsh became an
agricultural hub with rice being its main crop. In 1910 the entire six blocks
of businesses downtown burned to the ground but didn’t extinguish the spirit of
the town’s citizens who immediately rebuilt. Replete with memorabilia, the
Welsh Museum showcases the town’s history with a Blacksmith shop, antique farm
equipment and so much more! Open Tuesday through Saturday, a quick trip to the Welsh museum followed by
lunch or dinner at one if its Cajun restaurants like Parish Seafood Company
would make for a festive day out with the family.
Continuing on east on I-10 through Jeff Davis Parish, you’ll
discover the Parish Seat, Jennings. Established in 1880 and named after railroad
contractor, Jennings McComb, Jennings is also known as the “Cradle of Louisiana
Oil” since the first oil well was dug in 1901. Rich in History, Jennings offers
several museums for visitors to enjoy. Much ado has been done about Gator
Chateau where you can learn all about these historic creatures. Open Monday –
Saturday (9-5) Gator Chateu
invites you to visit and have your picture taken while holding baby alligators.
A popular festival held in November is “Battle of the Bows”
a fiddling contest open to all ages! Check out the guidelines here and even if
you can’t register this late, you can always enjoy the music. From the Jeff Davis Parish Fair (October) to
car shows and music and movie nights, Jennings is full of fun and festivals all
year so check out their calendar
and plan a day or weekend to visit.
Moving on from Jennings, head south on Hwy. 26 to Lake
Arthur and enjoy some great food at Regatta Seafood and Steakhouse.
If you’re lucky, you might even get to experience live Cajun music. Not up for steak
or seafood? Check out the Gummie Burger at Nott’s
Cajun Restaurant (aka: Nott’s Corner). Named for one of the earliest
settlers, Arthur LeBlanc, Lake Arthur was initially known as “lake le petit lac
Mentau” and incorporated in 1904. One of the most popular places to visit in
Lake Arthur is Myers Landing Campground and
RV Park. Set amidst towering trees billowing with Spanish Moss, this rustic
campground offers nature at its finest. As with any small town, tourism is a
plus and Lake Arthur offers events for Memorial Day, July 4th and
other National holidays but is known for its old-fashioned Mardi Gras
complete with chicken run and parade!
Had we turned north on Hwy. 165 just east of Iowa, instead
of taking the interstate, we’d have moseyed on into the Village of Fenton.
Moseying is definitely what you want to do because the Fenton Police guards the
speed limit with fierce dedication. Originally settled in 1888 by Silas Fenton,
the area became a community in 1882 when Mr. Fenton commissioned First US
Postmaster. Mr. Fenton went on to donate 240 acres for the Fenton Town Site and
built the first store/post office followed by the school in 1893. Fenton’s rice
mill was built in 1896, and the Village of Fenton was incorporated in 1951.
Were you to keep heading north on Hwy 165 then take a right
onto Hwy 190 in Kinder, you’d soon find yourself in Elton, another village in
Jeff Davis Parish. Incorporated in 1911, Elton is partial home of the Coushatta
Indian Tribe. The Coushatta Reservation, which is mostly housed in Allen Parish,
stretches into Jeff Davis Parish as well. Federally recognized as a Native
American Tribe in 1973, the tribe began investing in a variety of enterprises
to provide revenue for their government, the largest of which is the Coushatta
Casino Resort. Find out more about the Coushatta Tribe by visiting their website. Even if you don’t gamble, a
trip to the Coushatta Casino
Resort is a cultural experience in itself.
One of Elton’s most notable people is NFL Nose Tackle, Al
Woods who grew up in Elton and played for LSU before moving on to the
professional league.
We’ve traveled the main components of Jeff Davis Parish but
it behooves us to mention all of the unincorporated communities who also make
up the unique beauty and culture of the heart of bayou country spread
throughout our neighboring parish: Barnsdall, Bellevue, Buller, China,
Coverdale, Edna, Foremans Hall, Gravel Point, Hathaway, Niblet, Panchoville,
Pine Island, Raymond, Roanoke, Silverwood, Thornwell, Topsy, Verret and Woodlawn.
Hope you enjoyed our little jaunt through Jeff Davis Parish.
Perhaps someday, if you’re so inclined, you’ll indulge in a little road trip,
stop at the mom and pop restaurants and stores and learn all you can about this
beautiful area of our state. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Until next time, take care, God bless and safe travels!
PamT
*Previously published in Lagniappe Magazine © 2018; Revised 2026